Kimmo Timonen won’t be testing the free agent waters this summer. The Philadelphia Flyers announced Thursday night that they have agreed to a one-year contract extension with the 37-year-old defenseman.

“Kimmo’s presence on the ice for us and in our locker room is invaluable,” Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said. “We look forward to him continuing his all-around play for us.”

Philadelphia didn’t immediately disclosed the financial terms of the deal, but the contract will pay Timonen $6 million in 2013-14, according to Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer’s source. Timonen’s current contract, which expires this summer, comes with a $6,333,333 annual cap hit.

The Finnish defenseman has been a stabilizing force on the Flyers’ blueline for years. He has recorded at least 37 points in each of his previous 10 campaigns and has played in at least 76 contests in each of his five full seasons with Philadelphia.

At the same time, he had back surgery last May and expressed concerns prior in early January about how his body might respond to a shortened season. So far he has five points and is averaging a team-leading 22:46 minutes through 10 games.

I said the same thing when I found out. 6.3333333333 mil for a 38 year old defenseman, strike that next year 39, with back problems, who has lost a step or 3 and with the salary cap falling by over 10 mil. How are we gonna fit…someone has to go. Thought he would take a cut to stay with team and live in the area…guess not. He could have hit the open market and been signed by Edmonton…imagine that. Hope he stays healthy so we don’t have another allstar LTIR player.

Hey ladies, what happened to the Timonen will just retire nonsense? You armchair wannabe GMs were a little off. Timonen got overpaid. Again. At least he’s old and slow to go with that fierce, intimidating physical game of his.

Last Place. Still.

“G, Hartsy > Crosby, Malkin”

Always good for a laugh…it’s so cute how you tools have nicknames for your overrated, slow, loser players…Hartsy.

You really are an idiot, if timonen hit the open market he would get more than 6 mil. 5th place out of 5 teams? I forgot the division matters in playoff standings right? You must not be smart because they are 1 point out of playoff contention with plenty of hockey left. But then again your from pittsburgh and just started watching hockey when they tanked on purpose to get a bunch of first round picks in a row, so it makes sense you wouldnt understand how the game works

Good move by the flyers, last year they waited to re-sign carle and jagr and lost both to teams who overpaid. This year they were not risking that chance. He may have lost a step physically but so did jagr, not they miss his voice and knowledge helping the younger guys. Timonen is the consumate professional and his voice in the locker room as well as his knowledge of the game to help bring along the flyers younger defensemen IE, schenn, gus, and bourdon.